Try a Different File Manager: Ghost Commander

If you are an advanced Windows or GNU/Linux desktop user, you should have heard of Norton Commander and Midnight Commander. These Applications are the principal representatives of orthodox file managers. In the era of MS/DOS and early Linux terminals, the concept of orthodox file managers managed to boost productivity and make personal computing much easier. In fact, many advanced users keep using such tools until today with Midnight Commander, for example, still being under active development, more than 20 years after its initial release.

Orthodox file managers have made their appearance on Android Operating System as well. One fine example is Ghost Commander. This App continues the tradition of orthodox file managers: It features a dual panel interface and it is fast and lightweight. Also, it is Open Source (GPL v3), allows deep customization and provides plugins for cloud services. It comes with no Ads at all, which allows it to have a clean and non-obstructive user interface.

Features provided by plugins:

The idea behind dual paneled file managers is that the user can simultaneously navigate to two different locations. Files and folders can then be moved or copied between the two locations easily. It might take some time to get used to this interface but once you master it, it can really boost productivity. Also, it is possible to operate Ghost Commander exclusively through keyboard, without even touching the display, since it assigns all of its functions to different keys. So, if you have a device with a physical keyboard, navigation and file or folder manipulation becomes quite easy. Lastly. if you make use of Dropbox or other similar file storing services, integration with Ghost Commander is seamless. All you need to do is install the corresponding plugin and enter your login credentials.

Another thing that one must consider, is the way this file manager handles multiple files selection. Gnome Commander tries not to overload the display with extra check-boxes. So, each file row is divided into two zones: By tapping on the left side of the row the App opens files and folders. By tapping on the right side, items are selected. Zones can be swapped under App settings.

Ghost Commander is a file manager boasting an idea from the past, that can be of handy even today. If you are doing lots of file operations on a daily basis on your device, if you need easy access to your cloud file storage or, if you are into new experiences, you should definitely give Ghost Commander a try.